Prayers for Prodigal Catholics
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From the Editor:  "Out of the clear, blue sky"

I’m going to title this column "Out of the clear, blue sky because almost every time someone reports a prodigal returning to the Church they say, "It was out of the clear, blue sky! All I had been doing was praying!" So much of what happens to us in life is a surprise. All we can be certain of is that God’s hand is always there to lift us up when we fall, to pull us back if we get too far away from Him, to comfort us and to love us no matter what happens. We truly can rest and be at peace. God is in control and we can find His goodness around us if we just look for it.

Wow! So much has happened since the June newsletter that I hardly know where to begin to try and catch you up. I gave "Silent Strength" presentations in July, to the Lay Associates of the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Independence, MO; and in Kansas at Holy Cross in Hutchinson, in Spetember, at Holy Angels in Basehor in October, and a return visit to St. Joseph’s in Shawnee in Nov.

Continuing this ministry became a little more challenging on July 29, when "out of the clear, blue sky" I fell and broke a bone in my left arm. Surgery to repair it required a "nail" to be inserted into the bone from my shoulder to my elbow. The recovery period is lengthy. It’s been six months already and I’m told I have many more to go. The bone has been slow in healing, and I have some nerve damage. All of this has slowed the effects of the therapy and my ability to regain my strength and range of motion. All is returning slowly, but I continue quite limited in movement. Much of this is because I am left-handed so it’s my dominant arm that is weakened. (If you’ve ordered a booklet lately and it was slow in arriving it was probably waiting for help in packaging , or for someone to drive to the post office to mail it.) I’m also limited to just short spurts of typing, so I’ve been slow in answering email. If you tried to contact me and got no response, I apologize. Please try again.

I share all this, not for sympathy, for God has blessed me much in the past few months, but to let you know what has been happening and why things may be delayed when you contact the Marian Mantle Group.

God has provided me with good doctors and good friends. I am grateful to have a husband by my side who, with the help of my sons and their wives, has managed household chores, kept Marian Mantle functioning, and all requests up to date. Bob helps with my therapy exercises every evening, does whatever needs to be done—and continues to work full time.

Our dear friends in this group and those at Sanctuary of Hope (the inner city retreat house where we volunteer) are always ready to help when we need them. During those first weeks after the accident, prayer was what kept me going. I told Father Dennis at Sanctuary of Hope that sometimes I could literally "feel" the prayers of their Tuesday morning prayer group. So, I may be injured, but much of the time has been blessing upon blessing.

Since I haven’t been able to teach this year, nor able to take any technical writing contracts, you who pray for prodigals have been my main focus. I thank you for your prayers, cards, and good wishes. Each phone call and note is precious to me. I truly felt wrapped in the love of God and in the mantle of the Blessed Mother. When I receive your prayer requests I pass them on to the leaders of our "Silent Strength" prayer groups and to our online group. We all rejoice around here when anyone reports any progress toward a prodigal’s return!

Two weeks after arm surgery, Bob and I were able to keep our appointment with Archbishop Naumann. When we met, he was holding the Marian Mantle document we had compiled, including the letters from many of you. We spent 45 minutes discussing the Marian Mantle Group. As Archbishop Keleher had done previously, Archbishop Naumann sent his good wishes to all. He confirmed that within the pastoral needs of the Church there is a need for our efforts. He directed me to contact the Archdiocese’ Family Life office for further help. Bob and I shared with him some of our moments with, and comments from, you. He said he was pleased that we have called upon Our Lady of Sorrows. At the close of the meeting we prayed a Hail Mary together and Archbishop Naumann prayed for continued success of the work of this little lay ministry of which you are all such an important part! He was very gracious to us. We are truly blessed to have this good shepherd here in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

I know God has been with me throughout the past six months. At first, I wondered if I could keep Marian Mantle moving forward. I soon learned that it didn’t matter what I could or couldn’t do. God and the Blessed Mother are taking care of it.

For example, Hutchinson was already scheduled so we felt I should try to give that seminar. (They had prayed the rosary for it’s success every Wednesday all summer.) I needed a recliner to sleep comfortably—the sponsors found the one motel in town that had one. The long drive should have been difficult with an injury that required constant pain medication; but, all was well. The turn out was large. The people were wonderful and receptive to the message. The result? They formed a "Silent Strength" prayer group at each of the town’s three Catholic parishes.

Just yesterday I experienced another example of God’s hand in this. Several of us have been praying for ways to continue to reach others who are hurting because of prodigal loved ones. Before we could meet to discuss it, Connie phoned from the mountains of Montana. She was with her husband who is an over-the-road trucker. This mom of 8, grandmother of 19 (many of them prodigal Catholics) learned about us from her mother who had attended a talk.

Connie said, "I have lots of time to pray." She asked me to send materials she could leave in churches they visit in their travels across the country. Again, I am in awe of He whose plans are always better than we could ever imagine!

As I’ve had to sit and wait to heal, I’ve sought the Lord’s voice. I’d like to say I’ve had major breakthroughs in discerning His Will. But, all that listening and waiting usually ends with my simply praying for all our prodigals and attempting to offer up my pain and discomfort for them. I wish I could say I never complain. I cannot. I wish I could say I understand exactly what we are to do. I cannot. What I can do is share a Scripture that came to me "out of the clear, blue sky" during prayer a few days ago.

St. Paul writes (2Cor 12:9-10)"

He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

I believe this is what God has been trying to tell me all along. It is certainly words those of us who anguish over a prodigal loved one need to remember.

In our weakness, may we continue to exercise our "silent strength" and live in peaceful hope, while we wait for our time to speak those glorious words: "The child for whom I have prayed has come home!"

Peace, MaryAnn ♥

From "Silent Strength"  The Newsletter of the Marian Mantle Group, January, 2006
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